Connect your ESPN account

This lets PigskinPal show your private ESPN leagues. It takes about 3 minutes, and you only do it once. You type your ESPN password on ESPN’s own website, never on PigskinPal.

First: sign in to PigskinPal

Your ESPN connection is saved to your PigskinPal account. No account yet? The same button lets you make one with just a username and password.

You’ll come right back to this page afterwards.

Steps for your computer

Use Google Chrome on a Windows or Mac computer. You’ll copy two pieces of text from ESPN and paste them here. Nothing you click can break anything.

Part 1 · Sign in to ESPN

1
Open Chrome, go to espn.com, and sign in with your ESPN email and password.

Part 2 · Find your two codes

2
Still on espn.com, press F12 on your keyboard. On a Mac, press Command + Option + I together.
A panel full of text opens on the side or bottom of the window. That’s normal.
3
At the top of that panel, click Application.
Don’t see it? Click the » arrows at the top of the panel and pick Application from the list.
4
On the left side of the panel, find Cookies. Click the small arrow next to it, then click https://www.espn.com.
5
Click in the Filter box above the list and type espn_s2. One row is left.
6
Double-click the long jumble of letters in the Value column, copy it (Ctrl + C, or Command + C on a Mac), and paste it into box 1 below.
7
Change the Filter to SWID. Copy its Value the same way and paste it into box 2 below.
It looks like {1A2B3C4D-...} with curly brackets. Include them or not; either works.

Part 3 · Connect

8
Click Connect ESPN, then Add all. Done!
Do this on PigskinPal on the same computer, signed in to your PigskinPal account.

Stuck?

I can’t find Add Bookmark, Bookmarks or Edit.: In Safari, these can hide under the ••• button at the bottom right. In the Share list, Add Bookmark is below the row of app icons, so scroll down. In Chrome, everything is under the ⋮ button at the top right.
There’s no ⓧ to empty the address box.: Tap in the box, press and hold until a menu shows, tap Select All, then tap Paste to replace it.
My test didn’t show the “link works” message.: The code didn’t make it into the bookmark’s address. Tap Copy the special link again and redo the editing steps, pasting into the address (bottom box on iPhone, URL box on Android), not the name.
espn.com keeps opening the ESPN app.: Close the app, go back to the browser, and type espn.com into the address bar yourself instead of tapping a link.
A message said PigskinPal couldn’t find your ESPN sign-in.: You’re on espn.com but not signed in there. Tap the person icon at the top right of ESPN, log in, then tap the saved link again. Still happening? Your phone blocks this; use the computer steps (open “Using a different device?” at the bottom of this page).
It says ESPN didn’t accept the login.: Log out of espn.com, log back in, and tap the saved link again. ESPN gives you a fresh sign-in each time.
My league still doesn’t show up.: Only leagues on the ESPN account you signed in with appear. Make sure it’s the same ESPN account your team is on.

Using a different device?

Steps for a iPhone or iPad

Use Safari for every step (the compass app), not Chrome or the ESPN app.

Part 1 of 3 · Save the special link (only once)

1
Tap this yellow button:
2
Tap the Share button at the bottom of the screen.
Don’t see it? Tap ••• at the bottom right first, then Share. Still nothing? Scroll up a little so the bottom bar shows.
3
In the list that opens, scroll down and tap Add Bookmark. Then tap Save (top right).
4
Tap the Bookmarks button at the bottom.
Don’t see it? Tap ••• then Bookmarks. If it shows Reading List or History instead, tap the tab at the top.
5
Tap Edit (bottom right), then tap the bookmark named PigskinPal (usually at the bottom of the list).
Two boxes open: a name on top, a web address underneath.
6
Top box: delete the name and type PigskinPal ESPN.
7
Bottom box: tap it, tap the grey ⓧ on its right to empty it, then press and hold inside the box and tap Paste.
✓ The bottom box now starts with javascript:
8
Tap Done on the keyboard, then Done at the bottom of the list, then close the bookmarks.
9
Test it: tap again and tap PigskinPal ESPN.
✓ A message pops up: “Your PigskinPal ESPN link works!” Tap OK. No message? Redo steps 5 to 8, making sure you pasted into the bottom box.

Part 2 of 3 · Sign in to ESPN in Safari

10
Tap the address bar, type espn.com and tap Go.
Typing it (instead of tapping a link) keeps you in Safari rather than opening the ESPN app.
11
Tap the person icon at the top right of ESPN and Log In with your ESPN email and password.
Already signed in on the ESPN app? You still need to sign in here in Safari. If ESPN shows your initials at the top right, you’re signed in.

Part 3 of 3 · Connect

12
While you’re still on espn.com, tap and tap PigskinPal ESPN.
✓ PigskinPal opens again by itself with a green box at the top.
13
Tap the green Connect my ESPN account button, then Add all. Done!

Steps for a Android phone

Use Chrome for every step, not Samsung Internet or the ESPN app.

Part 1 of 3 · Save the special link (only once)

1
Tap this yellow button:
2
Tap ⋮ (three dots, top right of Chrome), then tap the ☆ star at the top of that menu.
3
A bar pops up at the bottom saying Bookmarked. Tap Edit on it.
Missed it? Tap ⋮ again, then the blue ★, and the same screen opens.
4
Name box: delete the name and type ppespn.
5
URL box: delete everything in it, then press and hold inside the empty box and tap Paste.
✓ The URL box now starts with javascript:
6
Tap the ← back arrow at the top left. That saves it.
7
Test it: tap the address bar at the top, type ppespn (don’t press Enter) and tap the ppespn suggestion with the star.
✓ A message pops up: “Your PigskinPal ESPN link works!” Tap OK. No suggestion with a star? Redo steps 3 to 6.

Part 2 of 3 · Sign in to ESPN in Chrome

8
Tap the address bar, type espn.com and press Enter.
Typing it (instead of tapping a link) keeps you in Chrome rather than opening the ESPN app.
9
Tap the person icon at the top right of ESPN and Log In with your ESPN email and password.
Already signed in on the ESPN app? You still need to sign in here in Chrome.

Part 3 of 3 · Connect

10
While you’re still on espn.com, tap the address bar, type ppespn and tap the suggestion with the star.
✓ PigskinPal opens again by itself with a green box at the top.
11
Tap the green Connect my ESPN account button, then Add all. Done!

Is this safe?

You never type your ESPN password on PigskinPal. The link only copies the sign-in ESPN already gave your browser. PigskinPal locks it away (encrypted) on your account and uses it only to read your leagues: standings, rosters and scores. It can’t be seen by anyone else, and your private leagues only show for people in them. Tap Disconnect any time to delete it.